Sign In / Register
Kaipara District Council will receive up to $435,000 to cover the cost of contractors who carried out a range of work in the wake of the January tornado in Mangawhai. The fund will also cover the cost of disposing tornado-damaged waste at the Hakaru Transfer Station, which was made free over a weekend for affected residents.Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson acknowledged the government for its support, saying unpredictable weather events can have a crippling financial impact on small councils. In the aftermath of the tornado, 6.8 tons of construction waste was sorted and recycled, more than 48 tons of household and construction waste was received at Hakaru Transfer Station and about 2500 cubic metres of green waste was collected and mulched. Council recovery manager Glynis McCarthy is still finalising the total of the clean-up and estimates the number to be well over $500,000. Some costs are also eligible for a NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) subsidy.
Triathletes head for Kai Iwi Lakes
The Fireco Kai Iwi Lakes triathlon will be held on Saturday, April 12, featuring three different courses for adults and options for teams. There will also be junior courses for ages four years to 15 .The main course starts with the swim leg at the main lake followed by the cycle and run courses, which will include some significant hills. The majority of the run will be off road with each transition occurring at Pine Beach. This year introduces the inaugural Battle of the North, where triathlon clubs from the upper North Island will compete for the Kauri Shield. Both participation and podium points will be on offer with the winning club taking home the shield and other prizes. Categories (swim, bike, run) for adults include Try a Tri 100m + 10K + 2K, Short 350m + 10K + 3.5K; and Long 700m (or 1500m kayak) + 20K + 8.5K. For kids, 4-6 yrs: 50m + 2K + 500m; 6-10 yrs: 100m + 4K + 1.5K; 11-15 yrs: 150m + 8K + 1.5K.
Info: https://raceroster.com/events/2025/98544/fireco-kai-iwi-lakes-triathlon-2025
KiwiRail addresses under-utilised line
KiwiRail is talking with a number of potential Northland customers about rail options for their freight, following the re-opening of the North Auckland rail line last September.
Currently, there is only one return freight service every weekday between Auckland and Whangārei, when Fonterra moves processed product from Kauri (north of Whangarei) to Auckland and onto Port of Tauranga.
KiwiRail chief asset development officer David Gordon says the North Auckland line has undergone significant work to improve resilience.
“We understand the importance of resilience to customers such as Fonterra, and have improved culverts and drainage, strengthened slip-prone slopes and installed close to 500 metres of retaining structures,” he said.
Kiwirail executive general manager freight markets Alan Piper said freight trains carried imported and exported goods from timber and forestry products, bulk goods such as milk, dairy products and steel, and domestic goods.
“Conversations with existing and new customers are commercially sensitive, so it is not appropriate for us to comment further on those. We are discussing options to move freight in both directions.”
